PEMA, ICHCA and TT Club join forces on safety
07.02.2011 – The Safety Committee of the Port Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (PEMA), the International Safety Panel (ISP) of global cargo handling association ICHCA International and the TT Club have joined forces to provide an industry-wide focus on safety in the port and cargo handling industry.
The 62nd ICHA ISP met in Antwerp on 24-25 January 2011 and was joined by the PEMA Safety Committee. The two day event, hosted by DP World, saw 50 delegates discuss a broad array of safety, environmental and security issues, including some 11 guidance documents currently under development.
Specific safety issues discussed included:
- The misdeclaration of gross container weights, which has been highlighted with the IMO Maritime Safety Committee following the publication of the ‘Lashing@Sea’ report by the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN). There is broad industry agreement, including from the World Shipping Council on behalf of the liner shipping companies, that gross weight should be accurately declared by shippers. The discussion at ISP centred on seeking appropriate methods of verifying such weights and use of the latest technology.
- A ‘baseline’ safety specification for quay cranes for Port Engineers to add to their specifications and for crane manufacturers to add as standard.
- The joint development of safety guidelines relating to straddle carrier design and manufacture.
- Consideration of the structural examination of cranes, including design life issues, following the shock TT Club findings last year that revealed a disturbing number of major structural failures in port equipment. This discussion included a recent accident in which the equipment had allegedly been used far beyond its designed lifetime.
Mike Compton and Hannu Oja, the chairmen respectively of the ICHCA ISP and PEMA Safety Committee, joined with Peregrine Storrs-Fox, Risk Management Director at TT Club, in hailing the joint meeting as a great success setting the standard for greater collaboration on the important topic of safety. The three went on to confirm that the organisations will jointly develop and publish safety information in the future.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
ICHCA International is dedicated to the promotion of safety and efficiency in the handling and movement of goods by all modes and throughout the supply chain. It operates through a series of Local, National and Regional Chapters, Panels, Working Groups and Correspondence Groups and through its NGO status represents the cargo handling world at various international organisations. Members also benefit from consulting services and cargo handling news. Members include ports, terminals, transport companies and other groups associated with cargo handling and coordination. The ICHCA International Safety Panel (ISP) has over 75 industry experts from all over the world who meet three times a year in different countries to foster safety in the cargo handling industry, supplemented by frequent electronic communications. The panel identifies safety issues, seeks out new technologies, produces information sheets and good practice guides, carries out and publishes research initiatives, provides input into the development of international regulations and assists members and the industry in making cargo handling safer. The Panel currently has more than 60 publications.
PEMA was established to provide a forum and public voice for the global port equipment and technology sectors, reflecting their critical role in enabling safe, secure, sustainable and productive ports, and thereby supporting world maritime trade. The PEMA Safety Committee has only recently been formed and has 18 members at this time.
The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services. The Club’s membership comprises ship operators, ports and terminals, road, rail and airfreight operators, logistics companies and container lessors. One of the Club’s key activities is providing risk and loss prevention advice.
Enquiries to:
Mike Compton – Chairman – International Safety Panel
Tel: +44 1708 734831 Mobile: + 44 (0) 7736 234406
Email: mike@portsafety.demon.co.uk
Hannu Oja – Chairman – PEMA Safety Committee
Tel: +358 20 427 2640 Mobile: +358 40 545 6389
Email: hannu.oja@konecranes.com
Kevin Sweet – TT Club
Tel +44 (0) 2072042642 Mobile : + 44 (0) 7786 162544
Email : kevin.sweet@thomasmiller.com